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Sep 29th, 2006 - 18:09:47 |
Dan Trepanier
NEXT MEETING: The LGBT Refugee Peer Support Group
meets regularly after 11 am service on Sundays.
Our next meeting is Sunday October 8th at 12:45 to 1:45 in the Rainbow Classroom (Lower level)
If you are a refugee or know of a GLBT refugee feel free to join us.
We start promptly at 12:45 and end promptly at 1:45.
Visit Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto 115 Simpson Ave. (Gerrard and Howland in Riverdale) http://www.mcctoronto.com/index.html Contact us at mailto:Refugeeteam@MCCToronto.com
MEETING (Sunday Sept 9, 2006) DISCUSSION NOTES:
VOLUNTEERING HELPS!
It appears that most group members are looking to connect with volunteer opportunities. Here is an important link to the many volunteer opportunities available at MCC- Toronto It is also possible to find volunteer work through other community agencies Like the 519, http://www.the519.org/
Or the YMCA of Greater Toronto Newcomer Information Centre ( Details at http://dantrepanier.tigblog.org/post/34790
RESEARCHING MY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN --- to support my claim!
A special thanks to our guest David Olson for his valuable insight into the Refugee claimant process. During our meeting we discussed how refugees need to focus more on their legitimate fear of persecution in their testimony and written cases. In our opinion judges look to credibility so if you make a mistake in a written submission it could be difficult to make correct, so please ensure your dates and content are 100% accurate and double check all written evidence before making a submission. Letters from counselors, church groups, psychiatrists are all very helpful in supporting a refugee case. In some cases Legal Aid will pay for psychiatric evaluation as well as translation of documents from foreign countries. We discovered that Holy Trinity (Eaton Center) also has a good refugee program (details here)
Tip: Focus more on the legitimate fear of persecution in your support documents. There are a number of web resources whereby you can research information on different countries.
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
--Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world.
--We stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice.
--We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable.
--We challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law.
--We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all.
http://www.amnesty.ca, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
http://www.aito.ca/lgbt/lgbt.html ,AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, TORONTO: (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Group)
What they do: AI-LGBT (Toronto) was formed in 1990, and works against human-rights abuses directed at sexual minorities and people living with HIV/AIDS in other countries, ranging from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, El Salvador to Saudi Arabia, Turkey to the USA. We participate in letter-writing meetings, sponsor international speakers, undertake public awareness events, speak to media and other groups about our work, and raise funds to support our activities. The group also maintains the website for AI's international LGBT Network, www.ai-lgbt.org. AI-LGBT (Toronto) holds letter-writing meetings once a month to participate in campaigns protesting human rights abuses. In addition, we have monthly planning meetings to organize our letter-writing and other activities. For information on when, where, etc., please contact, or lgbt@aito.ca.
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGACT790022001, Read Interesting Article called: Campaigning for gay and lesbian human rights
Special thanks to Brian for taking notes and helping to facilitate our last meeting.
http://projects.takingitglobal.org/lgbtpeer/reports/?id=44841, web link to this report>
Sep 12th, 2006 - 15:43:43 |
Dan Trepanier
Celebrating our SUCCESS!
In the spring of 2006 the primary focus of our LGBT PEER SUPPORT GROUP was to help Roger, John, Vitaly and Kamil prepare for their Immigration Review Board (IRB) hearings and gain ‘SETTLEMENT’ resources in Toronto. Meetings were held on May 11, June 11, July 9, and Sept 9th at MCCT.
On September 9 there were NINE NEW group members who attended (from Russia, Uganda and Jamaica) We anticipate at least 5 others to join our group in the coming weeks.
Sep 12th, 2006 - 15:42:52 |
Dan Trepanier
Post IAC refugee claimants and Invitation to CAAT Meeting for service planning.
As we are all aware, there have been a sizable number of refugee claimants amongst the attendees of the 2006 International Aids Conference in Toronto.
Many organizations have been working with these populations in the last few weeks.
Prior to the conference, CAAT (Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment ) has worked with HALCO http://www.halco.org (The HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic (Ontario) and numerous community partners to develop the resource listing and info kit for possible claimants at the conference, since the conference, we have received a number of media requests as well as referrals for support service, legal information and health services as well.
CAAT (Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment) is set up primarily in response to the needs of immigrant, refugee and non-status PHAs and is inclusive of the different service sectors and ethnoracial groups.
The YMCA and the MCCT LGBT Refugee Peer support group are invited, along with all interested community partners, to attend our next meeting coming up next Tuesday, September 19th to further explore how we can coordinate our services and collectively address the emerged needs of this new group of PHAs.
The meeting will be Tuesday, Sept 19th from 2-4:30 here at the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario (HALCO). We are at the corner of Church and Wellesley (1 block east of Wellesley subway station - brown office building - Pharma Plus at the bottom - 4th floor - "HALCO")
FYI : HALCO is a not-for-profit, community-based legal clinic serving low income People with HIV and AIDS (PHAs) in Ontario. HALCO was established in partnership with the AIDS Committee of Toronto and the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation.
HALCO is funded by Legal Aid Ontario, the AIDS Bureau of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and the ACT Community Partners Fund.
HALCO can be contacted by: Phone: (416) 340-7790
Toll-free in Ontario: 1-888-705-8889
Apr 9th, 2006 - 16:49:35 |
Dan Trepanier
Sunday April 9th @1:00-2.30.
The first LGBT Refugee support meeting was facilitated by BrianB and DanT
•6 REFUGEES ATTENDED, (FROM Russia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, The Caribbean and Ukraine)
•Upcoming Member Immigration hearings: Two in May (12, 4), One in June (8) and three do not yet have hearing dates.
•The group agreed to meet every two weeks after Sunday service. The next meeting is April 23rd at 1pm-2 at MCCT.
NEW CONNECTIONS ~ PROUD LIVES: The MCCT Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Transgendered (LGBT) Refugee Peer & Mentoring Support Meetings.
•New members/guests are always welcome!
•Three members have begun volunteering at MCC on other mission teams
Participants said they need help to;
--prepare 'appropriate' letters of support for their Immigration hearings
--access volunteer and work opportunities
--accessing personal counseling to deal with emotional issues
--access basic resources such as housing, clothing, food
--continue working on English skills
--be part of a SAFE environment to discuss issues
--exchange contact info with others and peer connect between meetings.
•Each member had an opportunity to share ideas and resources to support each other.
•Brian talked about the Thrift Shop Certificate (details coming soon)
•Brian and Dan will connect with someone at the 519 Community Centre and Sojourn House to get insight on what services/supports they could offer.
•Dan presented information on The YMCA Newcomer Information Centre and Employment Placement Program. Details at http://dantrepanier.tigblog.org/post/37182
SUPPORT LETTERS:
•Members wanting support letters need to provide us with their their full names, email addresses and phone numbers, date of birth, case file number (if available). Please provide MCC with your lawyers; name, phone number, email, and mailing address. Send this info via email, Attention Brian or Dan (Refugeeteam) Refugeeteam@MCCToronto.com. Lawyers need support letters at least 20 days prior to any Immigration Department hearing!
•These letters will come from Russell as staff person at the church handling this mission team. MCC needs to be absolutely clear about what we are telling the government. The letters could be on MCC Toronto letterhead as long as statements made are accurate and factual. ‘Refugeeteam’ (Brian) will either mail the letters to the lawyers or members can pick them up (make arrangements with Brian).
Web Details this update at http://projects.takingitglobal.org/lgbtpeer/reports/?id=37462
Apr 4th, 2006 - 14:17:39 |
Dan Trepanier
New-Connections ~ Proud Lives
ARE YOU CURRENTLY a Refugee or Newcomer wanting to celebrate the diversity of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgendered) community, find a job and access resources?
YOU ARE INVITED TO AN INFORMATION SESSION:
Click here for details -->
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